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#1
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1969 428 Catalina convertible
New here with a couple questions. I bought a 1969 Catalina convertible 428 with allegedly under 60K original miles. It does have original paint confirmed with a digital paint thickness gauge. The car came with the window sticker and protect-o-plate and is all matching without any modifications other than electronic points and after market coil.
My questions are, how unusual is this car and would I be foolish to slightly modify it with front disc brakes and a limited slip diff. and gear and eventually big valve heads? Nothing that couldn't be changed back to stock. |
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#2
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It's unusual solely because it's in great shape and 52+ years old. That alone makes it "rare" nowadays. As far as modifications, adding disc brakes and a posi rear or doing some minor motor mods will NEVER result in lowering the value of the car if you use factory style components and keep the factory stance. If you go full airbags, 4" drop, big wheels, or turbo LSx, you'll lose some value, gain some other regarding trying to sell it.
At this point I would drive it and do the disc brakes and better rear end at a minimum just because those things don't hurt value and make the car safer and more fun to drive. Anyone who complains about those mods when you go to sell the car wasn't interested in buying it anyways. |
#3
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Welcome to the site, and nice car. I don't know how many were equipped with a 428, but there were only 5,436 Catalina convertibles built out of a total of 212,851 Catalinas of all body styles in 1969, so they weren't common by any means. I agree the changes you would like to make won't detract from its value.
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#4
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41÷12=???
My daughter found this posi carrier from a Facebook post. The owner told me about totaling a 68 Ventura when he was 18. Though it had 2.90 gears and sent pictures of a sludge coverd carrier! Went to look at it yesterday was almost 50 miles away. Had rubber gloves on when he pulled it out of the bucket. Started cleaning the ring gear and found 41 12 did a little math on the phone and was very happy to see 3.416 come up! Cleaning it up in kerosene now, looking better already.
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#5
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Welcome aboard Mate! I'm a Big Fan of the 1969 styling over the 68 and 70 Pontiacs. I feel that would be nice upgrades for your car and wouldn't hurt the resale at all. Post some more pictures and info on your car. Have you gotten the PHS yet?
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1965 Pontiac 2+2 421 HO auto 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix 428 4 speed- sold 1968 Firebird 400 auto - sold 1967 Bonneville Brougham 2 dr. hardtop. 1969 AMC Rebel SST wagon-sold |
#6
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I will have to send for the PHS docs. The car was sold in Indianapolis September of 1968. The gentleman I bought it from was the second owner said he got it from his friend. I do know he put less than 5K on the car in the 25 years he had it.
The interior and dash are both in great shape with no cracks or tears, barely any wear! I can tell the timing chain is worn by the way it runs but that will be corrected very soon. Drove it 190 miles home in the rain the day I bought it, first rain it has seen in many years according to the previous owner. |
#7
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I would do the discs and posi and not worry about it.
A 1969 428 Catalina is a rare car
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The difference between inlaws and outlaws? Outlaws are wanted |
#8
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Neat car and nice to see a survivor like that still out there in such well preserved cosmetic and mechanical condition. . Good luck with it and enjoy it as you wish. None of those changes you want to do are going to affect anything.
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69 GTO convertible Warwick blue w/parchment, 400 4bbl auto trans, #'s matching, frame off resto w/ 36 options and more coming. 67 Bonneville 428 convertible one of one Verdoro green w/parchment, documented GM brass hat parade car with every option for 67, non running MAJOR future project. |
#9
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Only adding a limited slip with a 3.42 gear and front disc brakes. Rebuilding the suspension and replacing the radiator. Just want a nice driver!
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#10
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What a cool car!! If you ever get tired of it, call me. 330 6186583 John
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WWW.GLASGOPERFORMANCE.COM. Updated... Sort of! |
#11
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Wow very nice ride! Amazing that the original paint looks that good
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Chris D 69 GTO Liberty Blue/dark blue T400, 9" w 3.50s, 3905lbs 461, 850 Holley, T2, KRE 310s, Comp HR288 w 165s, RA manifolds, 11.60@114, 1.58/60 The spare: 467, 850 Holley, T2, Edelbrock Dport 310cfm w RA manifolds, HFT 245/251D .561/.594L, 11.59@ 114, 1.57/ 60' |
#12
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I think I have all my parts together! Taking the car up to Glasgo Auto Performance on Thursday. Really been enjoying driving the car so much.
The thought of not having a car for 3 or 4 weeks was too much to bear! I am picking up a 67 Grand Prix convertible Saturday!! It's another clean original low mileage car. But that's another thread for next week! |
#13
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Here is my Cat. Nicely preserved rust free car. Red guts. Sweet driving car but the 428 was not factory installed. Done right though with a complete stock 69 Bonnie 428-360. Paint looks good in pics but it’s one of those thick early 80’s enamel shoots, cracking like an old cue ball!
One of these days I’ll get it in a paint booth!
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (base OHC, 350, 400HO & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA ht’s) 1969 Custom S 2dr ht 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr ht & Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 ht & Judge ht) 1969 Cat (3 Cvt’s & 2dr ht) 1969 Ventura wagon 2 seat 1969 Exec 4dr post 1969 Bonnie Cvt & 2 wagons 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr ht & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix 2 SJ’s 1969 2+2 2dr ht (Canadian) |
#14
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I was very skeptical when the previous owner insisted the paint was original it just looked too good! There are no swirl marks or even micro scratches in the paint. I have only had the car for just over 8 weeks and haven't even washed it yet, it is dirty in my pics!
Here's a pic of the window sticker and protect-o-plate. |
The Following User Says Thank You to mjs5678 For This Useful Post: | ||
#15
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Very Nice Ride! I agree with disc front brakes, posi and some engine tuning and enjoy the drive!
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Jeff R 60 Jaguar Mark 2, 3.8L Automatic 67 Sprint Firebird 230 OHC-6 4-Speed A/C 78 Catlina Safari, Pontiac 400 powered 77 Astre Formula, 215 Buick V-8 T-5 73 Lemans Safari, 400 4bbl 4-speed 71 Catalina Enforcer, 455 4bbl 06 Mallet Solstice #024 LS2, Now with a Tremec 6060 6-speed! 2012 F-150 Echo Boost (My local Ford Dealer SUX!!!) 2020 Dodge Charger Scat pack (recovered) |
#16
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Very nice! Love the power antenna.
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#17
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Sweet Catalina convertible with some nice options. Agreed that adding disc brakes will do nothing but increase value and your enjoyment. Can you confirm that it has the #46 heads? If it has 16 or 62 you already have the large valve heads.
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#18
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I will check the head casting #, installing a new timing chain in a few weeks.
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#19
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Beautiful! Body style is almost identical to my 69 Executive coupe, and the story is remarkably similar... mine is almost all original, and I bought it from the 2nd owner who was a friend of the 1st. I've frequently wished mine were a convertible with a 428 also.
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#20
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Wow! That car is awesome and rare. Doesn't need a thing except timing chain IMO.
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